Bracken County

Kentucky — Natural Disaster Risk Assessment

Very Low

Composite Risk Score

12.0

National percentile: 12th

Bracken County faces very low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 12.0, 12th national percentile), driven primarily by strong wind and landslide exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $5M.

Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025

Expected Annual Loss $5M Annualized county-level EAL
Social Vulnerability Low Population sensitivity
Community Resilience Medium Capacity to recover
Population 8K Latest estimate

Top Hazards

Strong Wind
Medium $1M/yr
Landslide
Very Low $1K/yr
Lightning
Low $137K/yr

All 18 Hazard Risks

Strong Wind Medium 4.36 / yr $1M
Landslide Very Low 0.58 / yr $1K
Lightning Low 50.53 / yr $137K
Tornado Low 0.12 / yr $598K
Earthquake Very Low 0.00 / yr $57K
Riverine Flood Very Low 1.04 / yr $3M
Heat Wave Very Low 6.00 / yr $90K
Ice Storm Very Low 0.74 / yr $16K
Drought Very Low 2.22 / yr $3K
Winter Weather Very Low 10.63 / yr $14K
Cold Wave Very Low 1.63 / yr $168K
Hurricane Very Low 0.01 / yr $1K
Hail Very Low 3.24 / yr $17K
Wildfire Very Low 0.00 / yr $656
Avalanche Very Low 0.00 / yr $0
Coastal Flood Very Low 0.00 / yr $0
Tsunami Very Low 0.00 / yr $0
Volcanic Activity Very Low 0.00 / yr $0

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the overall natural disaster risk for Bracken County?

Bracken County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 12.0 out of 100, placing it in the Very Low category and the 12th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.

What are the top natural hazards in Bracken County?

The three highest-rated hazards are Strong Wind (Medium, $1M EAL), Landslide (Very Low, $1K EAL), Lightning (Low, $137K EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.

How does Bracken County compare to other Kentucky counties?

Bracken County ranks #114 of 120 Kentucky counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a very low rating.

What does Expected Annual Loss (EAL) mean?

EAL is FEMA's estimate of average annual dollar losses from natural hazards, calculated from historical event data and exposure models. Bracken County's $5M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.